Goals from Craig Bonnar and Sam Thomas gave the Arthurian League a winning end to their UEFA Regions Cup campaign in Finland, today.

The team bow out of the tournament, finishing 2nd in the group after Länsi-Vantaan Ylpeys (which translates as 'Pride of West Vantaa') overcame the Lisbon FA 2-0 to win the group and progress to the final tournament, and the Arthurians were already out of contention as they needed a win by 4 goals or more to stand a chance of nicking top spot, but the result shows that the team were in the mix, holding the two favourites from Finland and Portugal to creditable draws.

Bonnar opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, converting Jake Raine's assist following a Harry Larke corner but Dāniels Geidāns levelled for Latvia just before the break. The AL's excellence at set-pieces shone through again in the second half when Andy Evans' free-kick was turned home by Sam Thomas for the winning goal.

Jake Riley's superb overhead, hooked finish, three minutes into added time, ensured the Arthurian League Rep Team's UEFA adventure continues into the final game against Latvia on Wednesday.

After the team drew 3-3 with the Lisbon FA on Wednesday, the tournament hosts, Länsi-Vantaan Ylpeys, scored an impressive 5-1 win against the Latvian Amateur team. Before today's game, the Lisboan FA beat the Latvians 3-0 to eliminate them, and put themselves top of the group - for a few hours, at least.

Today's game was a tight affair with the Arthurians holding out until 2 minutes before half-time when Aaro Nyholm turned home Kevin Nurmi's cross to put the Finns ahead.

The second half was equally hard fought with both sides acquitting themselves well but it looked like the Arthurians were heading out of the tournament as the 4th official held up the board to indicate 5 minutes' added time. In a final throw of the dice, 'keeper Olly Bowles ventured forward for one final corner, but it was Harry Larke who got his head to the ball and, with the ball floating harmlessly wide of the post, Josh Riley who executed a dramatic overheard kick to hook the ball back into the goal.

The players celebrated by running towards our favourite photographer, Andy Nunn, who has already produced five albums worth of photos of the tournament, and we're only half way through!

In the final game, the team face already eliminated Latvia, needing a win by at least four goals to have any chance of progressing, while hoping either that Portugal and Finland draw in the late game. 

Arthurian League: ​Bowles - Thomas, Rolls, Evans, Beddows (Langley 62') - Larke, Banfield, Bonnar (Redhead 62'), S. Fetherston (J. Fetherston 62') - Riley ⚽, Raine